MIT Media Lab Center for Bits

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MIT Media LabCenter for Bits AtomsOutreach
ProgramA Pathways to Peace Subject NASA RISE
Design Project

• Technology Tiles
• June 24-Aug 1

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RISE Design Project

• Over the course of 6 weeks, RISE students were to
  learn solid modeling and design, machine and
  build tiles to illustrate the current state of
  technology
• NASA sponsors students in its Research In Science
  Engineering summer program
• 9 students from Historically Black Colleges
  Universities come to MIT for a technology
  infusion
• The CBA provided teaching and laboratory
  resources
• It was desired to learn how well a group of total
  neophytes could learn and apply a flexible design
  process to go from ideas to computer models to
  parts
• Tiles serve as monuments of todays technology
  for future generations

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RISE 3 Teams Together
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Design Process Individual Thought

• Individual thought is often the most creative
• Do leisurely things (e.g., long walks) that you
  know inspire creative thought.
• Look at what other people have created
• Look in your home, stores, www, patents
• Get out of traffic and take alternate routes
• Sketch ideas and the ideas principal components
• Pit one idea against another and imagine
  strategies for winning
• Take the best from different ideas and evolve
  them into the best 2 or 3 ideas

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Design Process Peer Review

• Peer review (having ones colleagues and peers
  review ones work) has always been a critical
  part of the scientific process.
• Rohrbach's 635 Method is a particular form of
  peer review where six (N) people circulate their
  Milestone Reports or Press Releases to the
  other five (N-1) for comments
• A written record is thus also made of who first
  had the idea, so personality conflicts are more
  easily avoided
• NO TALKING people make written constructive
  comments on each others papers, until everyone
  has read everyone elses press releases
• Peer review of ideas before brainstorming creates
  a collective mind, so everybody knows what
  everyone else has been thinking, thus giving egos
  a chance to mellow
• The group mind then works together in a more
  efficient manner when brainstorming
• Very useful for developing strategies, concepts,
  modules

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Evolving SystemsGroup Brainstorming

• Brainstorming helps teams solve personal
  creativity deadlocks and help to ensure something
  hasn't been overlooked
• Initially let everyone voice their suggestions,
  then distill ideas
• Group personality factors must be considered
• Shy individuals getting run over
• Aggressive individuals always driving
• An individual's personality often has nothing to
  do with creativity
• Careful to avoid conflicts over the issue of who
  first thought of the idea
• The people in the group must be willing to take
  praise or scolding as a group
• NO pure negatives, only observations with
  suggestions for improvement
• That design sucks!
• I see a low pressure region that can be
  alleviated by making it blue

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Solid Modeling

• Solid models of each design were made using
  SolidWorksTM
• SolidWorksTM is a 3-D modeling software Parts are
  individually designed and assembled as a complete
  work in SolidWorksTM
• Drawings of parts are are created in SolidWorks
  and downloaded to OMAXTM software for its
  Abrasive Waterjet Machining Center for machining
• The files were then downloaded to the machine

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Waterjet Cutting
Aluminum models were cut to verify the part
programs prior to cutting parts from tiles
John who runs the waterjet
Aida who helped us!
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Assembling Aluminum Models
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Buying Cutting Tiles

• After completing aluminum models, ceramic tiles
  were purchased to complete the final design
• Ceramic tiles were then cut in the same manner as
  aluminum tests tiles
• Tabs were used to keep small parts from falling
  into the water tank
• Tabs were then trimmed off
• The tiles were then arranged on tables to confirm
  sizes were correct

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Trimming
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Checking Part Fits
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Tile Assembly

• Once correct tile sizes were confirmed, parts
  were assembled and secured in position with
  cement and grout

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Tile Assembly
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Tile Assembly
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Trimming Mounting Boards

• Once all parts were secured in position, the
  boards were cut to size using a band saw

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Completed Tiles! The Process Worked!